Timing device



Feb. 22, 1944. w. J. ETTINGER arm. 2,342,461

TIMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 1. Fig. 2.

bu 46 4a V l V V-- I a k :2, s Q A l 4 47 m 4/ Z G E I5 I' I E \Z' 30 24 I 26 O 29 l6 3/ 4.9 E We \5 2.9a 25 V l /7 E 26 s s: a /6\ b L 2 El E3 Inventors- 1 Wallace J. Ettmger", fig Russell A.Winbor-ne, g8.

a by W Thei r- Attorney.

fiTATrZS earner EPEJEGE Application @ctober 31, 1939, Serial No. 3%,1563

Jiaims. (Qi- 200-422) This invention relates to timing devices, more particularlyto thermostatic timing devices, and it has for its object the provision of a timing device of this character having an improved,

simple and inexpensive construction and one providing an extremely accurate and uniform timing operation.

While not limited thereto, this invention is particularly applicable to the regulation or measurement of the heating intervals of a heating device, such as the hotplate of an electric range.

In accordance with this invention, a suitable temperature responsive element, such as a bimetallic thermostat bar, is provided to control the flow of energy to the controlled device The thermostatic bar is arranged to move between two controlling positions responsively to temperature changes. The bar when in one position causes energy to flow to the controlled device and when in the other shuts off the flow of energy to the device. A heating element, preferably having an appreciable thermal storage mass, applies heat to the bar to cause it to move from its one position where it supplies energy to the controlled device to its other position where it shuts off energy from the device, the heating element being controlled to apply heat to said bar when energy is supplied to the controlled device and to remove heat from the bar whenthe energy is shut off from the controlled device. A spring coacts with the bar to cause it to move between its controlling positions with a positive snap action. The spring provides a substantially uniform amplitude between the high and low temperatures at which the bar moves between its two controlling positions, and together with the large thermal mass heating element insures uniform timing in successive operations of the timing device. Preferably, a temperature responsive element compensating for ambient temperature changes will be interposed between the thermostat bar and the spring, and this compensation element will be thermally insulated from the thermostat bar so that it will not be influenced by the temperature of the thermostat bar and its heating means.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section of a thermostatic timing device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 g is a front elevation of the thermostatic timing device of Fig. 1, parts being broken away so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 3 is a plan view oi the timing device Figs. 1 and 2 with certain elements removed so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. a is 9. diagrammatic representation of an electric hotplate controlled by the thermostatic timing device in accordance with this invention; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating a temperature and time relationship in a particular thermostatic timing device arranged in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawings, this-invention has been shown as applied to a thermostatic timing device intended to be used to control the energy to an electric hotplate i0 (Fig. 4) This hotplate is provided with a pair of heating elements it and I2 01 any suitable construction and having any suitable wattage rating. The heating-elements II and I2 are provided with a suitable electrical supply source it. The control of the how of energy from the supply source l3 to the heating elements H and i2 is effected by a suitable thermostatic timing device it, shown diagrammaticaly in Fig. 4 and in detail -in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. v

The timing device l4 comprises an elongated metallic type formed of high and low expansion elements |8a and 18b. These elements may be formed of any suitable material; thus, the high expansion element l8a may be formed of a suitable nickel-chrome steel while the low expansion element l8b may be formed of invar.

The bimetallic bar l8 has one end rigidly mounted on a support #9, which, as shown, has a transverse portion I 9a to which the end of the thermostatic bar I8 is rigidly secured, as by means of rivets 20, and also with ears 2| arranged at right angles to the transverse portion Ma and which are pivoted upon a transverse shaft 22 that has its ends mounted in opposite walls of the casing l5, as shown.

The actuating temperature responsive element It is utilized to control a suitable control element for one of the heating elements H and I2. In the specific example illustrated, the element i8 controls'the heating element H.

In the specific example illustrated, the control device actuated by the thermostatic bar I8 is a switch having a pair of spaced fixed contacts 23 mounted within the chamber is and which are engaged by a bridging contact 24 also mounted within the chamber H5. The bridging contact 2a is actuated by the movement of the free end of the thermostatic bar it. The movement of this free end is transmitted to the bridging contact 25 through a second thermostatic element 25 and a thermally insulatingmember 26 which rigidly secures the free end of the thermostatic bar it to one end of the thermostatic element 25, as shown. The bridging contact 26, as shown, is secured to the other or free end of the thermostatic element 25 by any suitable means such as a rivet 2]. The bridging contact 2d is directly mounted on a U-shaped bracket 28 which has its base secured to the element 25 by the rivet 27. The base is electrically insulated from the ther-- mal element 25 and from the rivet 2? by sheets of electrically insulating material 29 which may be and preferably will be formed of mica. As shown, thethermostatic element 25 is directed upwardly through an aperture 29a formed in the wall lid. The thermostatic element 25 also preferably willbe formed of high and low expansion elements of dissimilar material, such as a nickel chrome steel and Invar. Here, however, the element a is the high expansion side, while the element 25?) is the low expansion side. In other words, this thermostatic element moves in a direction opposite to'the direction of movement of the element 38 in response to temperature changes. The element 25 is provided to compen sate for variations in the ambient temperature.

The spaced fixed contacts 23, as shown, are mounted in an electrically insulating block 36 formed of any suitable material, such as a phenol condensation product. This insulating block 38 is mounted on the exterior of a wall of the housing 55, but it presents the fixed contacts 23 to the bridging contact 26 through an opening 3! in this wall of the housing.

The actuating bar i8 moves between its position where the bridging contact 2d engages the fixed contacts 23 to a second controlling position wherein the contacts are opened, and which position is defined by a stop 33 mbunted in the chamber is. The thermostatic elements i8 is caused to thus actuate the bridging contact when its temperature is raised, and for the purpose of raising its temperature a suitable heating element 36 is provided for applying heat directly to the fixed end of the thermostatic element i8. The heating element 34 pref erably will have considerable thermal mass, and as shown, it comprises a resistance conductor 35 mounted within a tubular metallic sheath 36, and embedded in and supported in spaced relation with reference to the sheath by a highly compacted mass of electrically insulating, heat reiractory and heat conducting material 31. Preferably.-the material 3'! will be highly compacted ranular magnesium oxide. The metallic sheath 36, as'shown, is directly connected to the supporting bracket t9, and preferably is connected to a right-angle extension I91: formed on the transverse section Isa. Preferably, the sheath 36 will the heating element into the control circuit in a manner to be presently described.

It is to be understood that when'the heating element 3 3 heats the actuating member 58 to a predetermined high temperature it will cause this element to move the bridging contact 2d away from the fixed contacts 23, the movement in this direction being limited by the stop 33, and that when the heating element is deenergized, the bar 58 will cool and upon obtaining a predetermined low temperature will return the bridging contact 24' to close the contacts 23. The difierential between the high temperature at which the bridging contact opens the contacts 23 and the low temperature at which it recloses them is known as the temperature amplitude of the control device.

It is very important, to insure uniform timing operations, that this temperature amplitude be constant in succeeding timing cycles. in order to insure a substantial constant temperature amplitude, we provide a suitable spring '39 coacting with the temperature responsive element iii to cause the bridging contact to move between the fixed contacts 23 and the stop 33 with a positive snap action. In the example illustrated, the spring 48 is a compression spring, and it has one end bearing on'a collar 6i having a knife-edge connection 22 with the free'end of the compensating thermostat 25, and its opposite end bearing on a collar d3 having a knife-edge connec tion it with a'fixed adjustable bearing t5. This bearing 45 is mounted in a transverse wall 65 which is positioned opposite the transverse wall lid and which closes the opposite end of the chamber 16. The position of the bearing 45 with reference to the free end of the compensating thermostat 25 may be varied to vary the compression of the spring dB. This will change the tem perature amplitude.

The line setting of the control device is changed by shifting the position of the support IS on its shaft 22, which operation varies the angular relation of the bimetallic element 58 and the spring d8 so that more or less movement is required to produce the snap action of the element l8. It will be understood that when this angular relation is changed the stress in the bimetallic element is changed;' if this stress be increased, more elapsed time isrequired to reach the time setting, whereas if the stress .be reduced, less elapsed time is required to reach the time setting. The adjustment of the support I9 is accomplished by an adjusting rod 41 extending longitudinally through the chambers l6 and I! and having a threaded connection 48 with the Wall 46. The rod, as shown, extends through an aperture 49 provided for it in the transverse wall Ila and at its end opposite the threaded connection 48 has 1 aperture receiving the adjacent end of the rod 4'! which is provided with an abutment 50 spaced somewhat from the body proper of the rod so as to leave the reduced section 5| which is received in the aperture of the arm l9b. A plate 52 with a key hole slit surrounds the reduced portion 5| on one side of the arm l9b to prevent withdrawal of the rod from the arm, as shown. A helical compression spring 53 is mounted on the rod 41, and has one end bearing against the arm Nb and its other end bearing against the wall Ha. To the outer end of the rod is attached a suitable adjusting knob 54 wherey the position of the rod may be changed. It will be observed that the rod may be turned to move it inwardiy and outwardly, and thereby vary the position of the support !9 and of the bimetallic element it to vary the time setting.

As applied to the control oi the element ii in the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the heating element 34 is electrically connected in series with the supply source l3 and the heating element ll. Thus, when the bridging contact 25% engages the fixed contacts 23 to energize the heating element ii, the heating element 3 also will be energized to apply heat to the thermostatic actuating member l8. As previously described, when the heating element 34 heats the member 88 to a predetermined high temperature, which temperature will depend upon the setting of the knob 56, the actuating element l8 will operate the bridging contact to open the switch and thereby deenergize the heating element ii; at the same time the heating element 34 will be deenergized so as to remove heat from the thermostatic element l8. The thermostatic element it thereupon will cool and upon attaining the low temperature of the temperature amplitude will return the bridging contact 24 to its closed position to reenergize the heating element I i. In this'rnanner, the timing device will operate to regulate the flow of energy to the heating element ii in a series of timed cycles.

The mass of the heating element 3t is a very important aspect of this invention. It is desirable that the heating element 36 have an appreciable thermal mass because we have found that when it has a large massit permits obtaining an extremely wide range of timing with small temperature rise in the thermostatic element it; and also enhances accuracy in timing adjustment. We have found that a heating element having a small thermal mass heats and cools so rapidly that it is diflicult to obtain a very large variation in the timing cycles and is diflicult to control The importance of providing a large thermal mass may be seen graphically by reference to Fig. 5. In this figure, the curves A and B illustrate the rates of heating and cooling of a timer thermostat provided with a low thermal mass heating unit, while the curves C and D show the rates of heating and cooling of a timer thermostat provided with a heating unit having a thermal mass substantially five times as great as that of the first. Four hundred degrees Fahrenbelt is selected arbitrarily as the maximum temperature that either of the heating elements would reach, that is, the temperature where the heat radiation by convection, conduction, etc, equals the wattage input. It will be observed by reference to these curves that for the same total period of timing for each heating unit, the temperature difierential of the thermostatic element having a high thermal mass unit is considerably less than that of the other so that a much greater temperature range for timing adjustments is available, and moreover, it will be observed that the temperature rise in the thermostatic element having the high thermal mass is considerably less than in the other. For example, suppose a time interval of twenty-eight seconds is desired from the time at which heat is applied to thecontrolled device to the time at which it is reapplied. This is obtained in the thermostatic timing device having the low mass heating element by heating it from 200 F. to a temperature of .320 F., that is, from points I to 2; it will be observed from curve A that this operation will require eighteen seconds; in cooling from 320 F. to 200 L. ten second interval is B) so that in heating and cooling a to ter'val of twenty=eight seconds is reoju it will be observed, a temperature difieren l2ll F. is developed. In other words, the

is shut off from the hotplate and reapplied t In the case of the thermostat having the heavy thermal mass heating element this two second time interval is obtained by heat element fifteen seconds from point to (curve C) and permitting it to cool for a t teen second interval (curve D). In heating point 3 to point 41, the thermostat temperat elevated only from 200 F. to 224 F. giving a perature amplitude of only 24 guished form the case of the thermostat h" the low mass heating element where the tem 1-: ature difierential is F. Therefore, assuming four hundred degrees Fahreheit as the maximum. temperature, as previously pointed out, if we subtract fromthis temperature the low mass ten-- perature differential of 120 15. we have left only 280 F. available for timing adjustment, whereas in the case of the high mass element we have the difference between 400 F. and 24 or 376 F. available for timing adjustment. It will also be observed that curves C and D provide a much more gradual change in timing at the end regions of the temperature differential which facilitates greatly the accuracy in timing adjustment.

The provision of the high thermal mass heating element acting jointly with the spring 40 insures reliability and uniformity in timing,

"Another important feature is the location of the heating element 34 at the base of the timing element I8. Heat applied at this point has its greatest efl'ect on the deflection of bimetallic bar 68. Should the bar .be heated along its length the control of the deflection of the bar becomes very difllcult because of the greater distribution of the heat over the length of the bimetallic bar and other parts of the timing mechanism associated with the bar.

The control device further contemplates the provision of suitable means for simultaneously energizing the heating elements H and i2 in order to obtain a very high rate heat generation. For this purpose, a switch 55 is provided having a fixed contact 55 and a movable contact 5"! connected between the supply source l3 and the heating element H, as shown in Fig. 4. The movable contact member 5'! is controlled by means of a cam member 58 mounted on the shaft 51 so as to be under the control of the knob 54. The parts are so arranged that when the lift '59 of the cam engages the contact member 51 to close it to energize heating element l2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the heating element H also will be energized through contacts 23 and 24; and the parts are so arranged that when the cam is in this position the temperature responsive element l8 will be adjusted to such a high temperature position that the heating element 35 even though energized cannot elevate the temperature of the bar it sufficiently high to open the contacts 23. However, when the shaft is operated to remove the lift 59 topermit the switch 55 to open and thereby deenergize the heating element !2, the temperature responsive to element i8 will be adjusted to regulate or meter the energy to the heating element II, the amount supplied to the element ll depending upon the position of the control knob 5B, aspreviously described. The means here described, providing for the continuous energization of the two heating elements H and i2, and for the regulated control of the heating element ii, is described and claimed in our copending application, Serial No. 333,758, filed May '7, 1940, and which is a division of this application.

It is to be understood that while this timing device has been shown as applied to the control oi an electrically heated hotplate it may be utilized to control many other heating devices.

Also, while the timing device operates in a series of successive cycles to regulate the energy to the hotplate, it is to be understood that the amplitude of the timing device may be so set that it will operate to time a cooking operation in a singie cycle. For example, it may be used to time the cooking of a waiiie or a slice of bread, the timing interval being measured by the length of time required for the heating element 34 to cause the actuating member 18 to operate the bridging contact 2 5 from its closed position to its open position against the stop 33.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that we do not Wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and We, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States ism l. A thermostatic timing device comprisiing a bimetallic thermostat actuating barhaving one end fixed and its other end free to move, a heating element for applying actuating heat only to said fixed end of said bar to cause said free end to move in one direction, a bimetallic compensating bar, a thermally insulating member connecting one end of said compensating bar with said free end of said actuating bar so that said compensating bar is supported thereby, the compensating bar moving in a direction opposite to the movement of said actuating bar under the infiuence of temperature changes, a spring acting on the other end of said compensating bar moving the two bars with a snap action between two positions so as to insure uniform temperature amplitude of operation of said timing device between said two positions, and means for adjusting the position of said actuating bar so as to adjgst the time setting of said timing device.

2. A thermostatic timing device comprising a temperature responsive actuating element having one end fixed and its other end free to move,

a spring acting on said free end to move it with i a positive snap action from one to the other of wo positions and thereby give it a substantially uniform temperature amplitude, a high heat capacity heating element having a metallic sheath positioned at the fixed end of said temperature responsive element in direct thermal relation with it, a heating resistance element housed within said sheath and a compacted mass of electrically insulating and heat conducting material within said sheath embedding said resistance element and placing it in thermal relation with said sheath, and switch means controlled by the free end of said temperature responsive element controlling the energization of said heating resistance element to alternately energize and deenerheat capacity heating element having a metallic sheath positioned at the fixed end of said thermostat bar in direct thermal relation with it, a heating resistance element housed within said sheath and a compacted mass of electrically insulating and heat conducting material within said sheath embedding said resistance element and placing it in thermal relation with said sheath, the heating element when energized applying heat to said bar at a determined rate to cause it to move in one direction, a bimetallic compensating bar, a thermally insulating member connecting one end of said compensating bar with said free end of said actuating bar, the compensating bar moving in a direction opposite to the movement of said actuating bar under the influence of temperature changes, and a spring acting on the other end of said compensating bar moving the two bars with a snap action between two positions so as to insure a uniform temperature amplitude of operation of said timing device between said two positions.

4. A thermostatic timing device for an electrically heated device having an energizing circuit comprising a bimetallic thermostat actuating bar having one end fixed and its other end free to move in one direction, a bimetallic compensating bar, a length of thermally insulating material connecting one end of said compensating bar with said free end of said actuating bar so that said compensating bar is supported and actuated thereby, the compensating bar moving in a direction opposite to the movement of said actuating bar under the influence of temperature changes, a switch for controlling the energization of said heating device electrically insulated from, the other end of said compensating bar, and the movement of said other end functioning to operate said switch to open and close said energizing circuit so as to regulate the flow of electrical energy to said heated device; a heating element constructed and arranged to apply actuating heat directly only to said actuating bar gize it responsively to the cooling and heating of said temperature responsive element.

3. A thermostatic timing device comprising a bimetallic thermostat actuating bar having one end fixed and its other end free to move, a high for causing actuating movement thereof, and a control energizing circuit for said heating element controlled by said switch so that when the switch opens said energizing circuit for said heated device said heating element is deenergized,

Whereas when it closes said energizing circuit said heating element is energized.

5. A thermostatic timing device comprising a bimetallic thermostat actuating bar having one end fixed and its other end free to move, a heating element positioned at said fixed end of said bar and constructed and arranged to apply its generated heat to said fixed end, said free end being moved in one direction when said fixed end is heated, a bimetallic compensating bar, a length of thermally insulating material connecting one end of said compensating bar with said free end of said actuating bar, the compensating bar moving in a direction opposite to the movement of said actuating bar under the influence of temperature changes, and a control device actuated by the other end of said compensating bar controlling the energization of said heating element so as to cause said heating element to apply heat to said actuating bar to cause the compensating bar to move in one direction, whereupon the heat is removed from the actuating bar to permit it to cool to move the compensating bar in the other direction.

WALLACE J. ETTINGER. RUSSELL A. WINBORNE.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

February 22, 19M.

WALLACE J. ET'IINGER, ET AL.

Patent No 2 5142,1461 l.

It 13 hereby certified that error appeers in the printed specification .of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, sec- 0nd. column, line I l, for "line" read -time--; page 5, second column, line 20, for Fahreheit read -Fahrenheit--; line 70, after responsive strike out "to"; page 1;, first column, line 52, claim 1, for "comprisiing" read -comprisiny-{and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thie correction therein that the same may'confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May, .5. D. 19m

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting commissioner of- Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF commoner. Patent No. 2 ,5l+2,u61.

WALLACE J. ETTINGER, ET AL.

February 22, 19th.

It 15 hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification .of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, sec- 0nd column, line 141., for "line" read "time"; page 5, second column, line 20, for "Fahreheit' read --Fahrenhe1t--; line 70, after "responsive" strike out to; page 14., first column, line 52, claim 1, for "comprisiing" read ---compr1s1ng--'; 'and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thie correction therein that the same may'confom to the record of the case in thejPatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 19M

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Coimnissioner of- Patent s. 

